Certaine considerations touching the better pacification and edification of the Churchof England ..

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CERTAJNE

CONSIDE-RATION^S

touching the betterp^ification,

and Edification of the Church
of England: . .

• Dedicated to his n:cU Excellent

MaMLe.

^-^-r

Printed for HiN&Y Tomes.

•

•.

CERTAINE

CONSIDERATIONS

touchingthe better pacification,

and Edification of the Church

oFEn gland:

Dedicated to his moU ExceEenf
MAsepc*

H E Vnitie of Your

Church J (ExcilU^it So ftg'

yaigne) is a ching no lefle

precious, than thcVui-

on of your Kingdonaes,

bceing both Workcs

wherein your bappjncfJc

may contend with your
worthineffc. Hauing therefore prefumcd not
without your Majcfties gracious acceptacion, c. f ,

to fay fomewhac of the one , I am the more in--''* ''*^^^^°<:^
couraged not to bee filent in the other j the ra-
ther. becauTe it is an Argument thatIhauetra-;«^«^><-tT^**^^^*^*'

^^led heretofore : But SaUmcn comnaesdeth a C^^mc?

A3

word

■f ^-

Qrtnine Conjtderations touching

word fpoken in feafon 5 and as our Sauiour (fpea-
king of the difccrning of feafons) faith, whenyoit
fee i, cloud rifmg in the mfi^youfij it r^ilbe ajhowre ;
So your Maiefiie^ fifing to this Monarchie in the
Weft parts of the WotkJ, doth promifcafvvcct
and fruitfuUlhoure of many bleffings vpon this
Church ana CoFnmon-wcahhj afhowreof that
influence, as the very firft dewes and drops there-
of, hauc already layd the (larmcs and windes
throughout Chnftendomc, reducing the very face
oiEftffpe^to a more peaceable and amiable Coun-
tenance. But to the purpofc.

It is very true that thefe Ecclcfiafticall matrerSj
are things not properly appertaining tomy pro-
fefTion^wbichl wasnot io inconfiderate, but to
objed to my fcife : but finding that it is many
times feenCjthat a man that ftandcth off, and fora-
whac remoued from a plot of ground, doth better
furuay it and difcouer k^ than thofc which are vp-
on it, I thought it not impofTible, but that I as a
looker on, might caft mine eyes vpon feme things
which the Adors themfelues, (crpccially fome be-
ing into:e(!ed,fome led and addided, fome decla-
red and ingaged) did not, or would not fee ; And
that knowing in my confcience , whereto God
bcareth witnefTCj that the things which I fhall
fpeake/pring out of no vaine of popularTtie,offcB-
tation,derire of noueltie, parcialitic to either fide,
4'fpofitionto intermeddle, or any the like Lcucn

I may

the Church of England^

I may conceiuc hope,ihat what I want in depth of
judgement, may bee counteriiailed in fimplicitie,
and finceriticofafiPcdlion. But of all things, this
did moft animate me, that I found in thcfc opini-
on: of mine, ( which I hauc long held and embra-
ccd^as mayappeare by that which I haue many
)^cercs fince written of them,according to the pro-
portion neuertbelefle of my weakncfic) a confcnc
and conformitie with that which your Majeftic
hath publifViCJ^of your owne mo(\Chriftianjmoft
wife and moderate fence in thefe caufcs : wherein
you haue well exprelTed to the World, that there
is infufed in your facrcd breftfrora God,that high
principle and pofitionof Gouernmcnt, r/^4/^tfs^
euer hoU the whole more ^eere^ thin anjiparU

Porwhofeethnotj that many are aifededand
glue opinion in thefe matterSj as if they had not fo
much a defire to purge the euill from the good, as
to countenance and proted the cuill by thegood,
Othersfpcakc as if their fcope were onelytofct
forth what is good^ and not tofecke forth what is
pclTible, which is to wifh and not to propound.
O.hers^jocecd, as if they had rather a minde of
rcmoouing, than of reforming* But hovvloeuer
cither fide as men, though excelknt men fliall run
into ex.rtmitiesj yet your Majeftie,as a moft wife,
cqu3ll,andchrillian Moderatorjisdifpofed to find
out the golden mediocriticjin iheeflablilliment of
that which is lound^ and in the reparation, ot that

winch.'.

3.

f

Qertaine Confiderations touching

which is corrupt and decayed. To your Princely
judgement then Idocinallhamblencfic, fubmit
whatfoeuer I (Tiall propound , offering the fame
but as a raitc into the Trcafutic of your wifdomc ?
For as the Aftrooomcrs do wcl obferuCj that when
three of the fuperiour Lights doe meet in conjun-
dion, it bringeth forth fome admirable cffcds:
fo there being joyned in your Majcftie the light of
Nature, the h'ght of Learning , and aboue all the
light of Gods holy fpirit5iccanaotbebut yowrgo-
uernmcnt muft bee as a happie conftcllation oucr
the States of your Kingdomes. Neither is there
wanting to your Majcftie that fourth Li^ht,which
though it be but a borrowed Light,yct is of fingu-
ler efficacic and moment added to the reft, which
is the Light of a moft wife^ and well compounded
Cqunccllito whofc Honourable and^graue Wife-
domes I doe likewife fubmit whatfoeuer I flball
fay 5 Hoping that I fhal not need to make protcf^a-
tion of my mind and opinioD,that vntill yoiK Ma«
jefticdoth othcrwife determinc^anHor^er^airaSu-
alfand fulTobedience is toht giuen to Ecelcfiafti-
calljurirdidion^as unovvHands, and wtienyour
Majcftie hath determined and ordered, that euery
good Subicd ought to reft fatisfied^aftd apply his
obedience to your Majefties Lawes, Ordinances,
and Royal! commandcments. Nor of the diflikc
Ibaue of all immodeft bittcrncffe, peremptoric
prcfumption^popular handlingj and other courfes

tending

the Church of England.

rending rather to rumour and imprcflion in tbc
vulgar fort, thantolikcly-hoodof cflfcd^, ioyncd
with •bferuacionof ducie.

But before I enter into the points controucrecd,
I thinkc good to rcmoouc (it it may be) two opi-
nions, which do dircdly confrbat and opponc to
reformation, the one bringing it to ;> nulhtie, and
iheothcrtoanimpoffibilitie. The fir ft is, 7^4/ fl{ /
IS i^iiff^giaifolicii t$ hntinte any Wimg 10 Church
mjtstrJ. The othcr^ Thdt 4U nf^rmsttiif «?•/ hee ^ f'^'
sfter 0ni P/atfifw^* ' '""

" For the firli of thefCjit is excellently faydtjy the
Vto^zi^Suuftiper<vid$Antiqa^^ ^ *videte qud-
9dm fit vid ft {Is d- vers^ fJF tmhdsit in fg. So as
be doth not fay, Stgtefupir *vim M»tiq»44 (^ dm^B-
Uftintii, For xx. is true, that with all wife and
moderate perfons, cuilosne and vfage obtaineth
chat reuercnce, as it is fufficicnt Bnatter to mooue
them to make a (land, and to difcouer and take a
viewjbut it is no warrant to guide or condu6^ the;
a iyftjground I fay it is of dcliberatiyn, butjot of
'%e0ioD. But on the other fide, who koowctfi
oot that time {% truely compared to a ftrcamc,that
carieth downe freth aad pure waters into that fait
fca ol corruption which inuironetb all humane
aflions ? And therefore \{ man fhall not by hij in-
duOrie, vcrtue, and policie, as it were with the
oarerowea^ain(\the Arcame and inclination of
ciiQe^all inQitutioQS and ordinances be cbay Rcuer

B fo

^ * (jYtamConfideYatms touching

. fo pure will corrupt and degenerate. But not to

%i^ ^S2^Stj!!u^k ^*"^^<= fhis matter comon- place-like,! would onc-

'T"'^£^, d "^"^"lyaskc, why the ciuillStatCjfhould be purged and

reftcred by good and wholelpmc Lawcs made c^
ucry third or fourth yearc in Parliaments aflcm-
blcdjdeuifing remedies as faft as timcbreedeth
mifchiefs, & contrariwife the Ecdeilaflicall State
Aiould flill continue vpon the dregs of time, and
rccciue no alteration now for thcfc fiue and (ortic,
yeares and more? If any man (hall obiedl, that if
the like iHtermiiHon had becne vfed in Ciuill cau-
fes alfo, the error had not bcenc great. Surely, the
wifedome of the Kingdomc hath becne othctc
wife in experience, for three hundred yeares fpace
at the leaft. But it it bee faid to mc, that there is a
difference betweene Ciuill caufcs and Ecclcfiafti-
L^L'^ cr^^k.'^u ^\^ ^y>^'^'Ca\l, they may as well tell me, that Churches and
4V,v,.,^<,.^,^;,,.^^^ Ghlppelil^drnolcprraiiGn^^ though Gffles

and houfes doe; whereas commonly to fpeakc
truth, dilapidations of the inward and fpirituall
edifications of the ChurcFoTGo'dare is alllimes
as great, as tlie outward and materiall. Sure I am,
that the very word and ftile of Reformation vfed
by our Sauiour, ah initio mnfmi ita^ was applyed
to Church matters ,and thofe of the higheft nature
concerning the Law moralL

Neuerthelcffe, hce were bothvnthankefull and
vnwife that would denie, but that the Church of
tngUn^ during chc time ©f Qiicenc Elix^ihctb of

famous

(!U*;C i^.<v.^<'K (L.'

the Church of England.

famous mcmorie did flourini.If I fhould compare 4yf^^
if wTthTorrainc cfiurchcs,! would ratlicr the com-^ *'^^' ^^"
parifon fhouldbc in the vertucs^then as foroe make
ft m the dcfe(5isi rather I fay,as betweene the Vine . , ^ -.^^^ %% ^^>\
Scjhe^Oh'ue.which (houldLbejrsojt fruitFull.S^ not t3,-a-7<
as between the bryer and the thiftic, which Ihoiild
beemoftvnprofitable. For that reucrence (hould
bcvfed to the Church which the good fonneabf
Naah vfed to their fathers nakedncffe ; that is^ as it
weretogoebackvyardsj and to heipe the defedts
ihcrcof,and yet to diflemble them. And it is to be
acknowledged, that fcarcely any church fincc tlic
Frmitiue churchy y;cclded in like manner of yeares
an3^ Latitude of Counrrcyj_a greater numScr
of^ excel !ent_PreacHers , Famous Writers , and
grajjc GouernoarsJ5unbrlBe difcipiine and Or-
^3er$ of the Chutcb, as, marry^and the chief efl of
them arc very holy and good, fo yet if Saint Itbn
were to indite an Epif^Ie to the church oiEnghni^
as hcc did to them of a^^/Jj, it would furc haue the
claufe Hj^t^ Aitter(t4i tifAucA, And no more for
this point, fauing that as an appendixe thereunto,
it is not amifle to touch that obiedion, which is
made to the time and not to the matter, preten-
ding that if Reformation were nccefTarie, yet it ,
were not now feafonable at your Mite fits firft en- jk-^j-^'* *^'^ ^v^^*^-**^
trance.Yct JJtfpQcrates raith,S^ quidmoues afrincu ^"^'^ -^^^ un,»»^ *^ •
fh mfiUf, And the wifedomc of all examples doth
(hew, that the wifcli Trinca.^ as they haue cuec

B 2 beene

QnaineConfideratiom tomhing

Jbeen the moft fparing in remoouing or altcratioa
of fcruams and officer! vpon their comming in;
fo for remoouing of abufes and enormities, and
for reforming of Lawcs and the policie of their
States, they baue chiefly fought to enable and
commend their beginnings thcrewirh, knowing
that the fir(l imprcilion with people concinuetli^
long, and when mens mindcs are mofi in expe6la«
tion and fu(penca, then ate they bcft wrought and
managed. And therefore it feemeth to me^thatas
the fpringof nature, I meane the fpringol the
yeare, i% the beft time for purging and medici-
'V sing the naturall body;fo the fpring of Kingdoms,
is the m^ft proper fea(on for the purging and re-
difyingof politique bodies.

There remaineth yet an obie^ion, rather of
^gijpitioiitheiiofrcafon, and yet fuchasl tJhinke
nakcth a great impreflion in the mindes of very
wife and well aftdcd pcrfqns 5 which \s^ Tkst if
wsy hgtMift to m»$athif, tboi^^hh sh ukhg dwsy
jhfeSy ^efiimfffo dtcju^mmm w$iSJveetHe^e of

whifbujotmdinigeod, Thisfurcly had bcene a
good and true allegation in the ancient conten*
tions and diutfions betwecne the people and the
Senate of Romt^ where things were carried at the
appetites of multitudes which can .ncuerieepe
within the compafTe of any moderation. But tWc
things beting with vs to hauc an orderly pattge

vndcr

the Church ofEnglandn

vndcr a King who hach a M^ysUfowr^ and appi«-
ucd iadgement, and koowech as well chemcafirf
ofchmgs,aitbenacureoftheis, i$ furelya aced-
Icfic fearc. For they need not doubt, but your
Msieftie with the aduife of your dumtell^ will dif-
cerne what things arc intermingled like the tares
amongft the wheat, which liaue their rootes fo in-
wrapped and in tangled, as the one cannot be pul-
led vp without indangcring the other, and what
arc mingled, but as the chafife and the cornc,
which needs bat a fanne to fift and feuer them. So
much therefore for the fir A point of do reformati-
on to be admitted at all. 2«
^ For the feeond point* That there fhouid be but ^^^^^''^'^y'^'u'^ *^
oWiioixsi^oiDiftiflme in all Churches , and that ^^'^"^^ f- ^
impofedbyancccfYitie of a commandemcnt and
pr^fcript out of the word of God ^ it is a matter
Volimieshauebecnc compiled of, and therefore
cannot tccciue a bricfe redargution. 1 for my r
part doe confeflc, that in rcuealing the Scriptures, -^ — ;/ " l'^;'
I could neucr find any fuch thing, but that God^'^'^^'"]!^'^ f^*^*^*^^^
^ had: left the like libertie to the Chmrchjioiiirmfunt^^^^ «i ^/.^ -r ^^
SITKfeBath doBcjojche CMgouermg^nt , to be va* ^'^^ {•^tf^s .
rfcd accSrding to time and place and accidents,
wbid) neUerthclcfTc, his high and diuine proui-
tfebce doth order and difpole 5 for all ciuill go-
iienimeiitsarcreftraincd from God ymo thcge^
*i«rall grounds of lufticc and manners, but the po-
licitt and fbriact 6f them are left free. So that

Qertalne Confideratims touching

Afpnarchies and Kin^do rr^es , S cnates 9nd Scjgno-
rigs^ pOpTiTar Srargs and .ComnninaltleF,^a r^alj
kvyfuii ati.d \vl?cre they are planted ought to bee
maintained inuiolare.

^ lik^wyfc Li,<phurch matters, the Tiihlancc ol
Do(Slrins is ifnmutable , and (o are t-hegcnerafl
Ruks-of gouernment ; but for Rites atad Cc.remp

^

-^•.M?.f .Ti. u- '■ ^ And thererore u IS pood wecrctiirnevntochcan-
cJcjkK (^arvds oi vnitiejin the Church of Godjwhich
v;^a? qne f >j/r^5, one Bnfjifme^ and not ooe HJcTAr^
die a ene DJfciflme , aad that vyeeobferue the
haguQoichri/iiam as it is penned by our Sauiour
C^r{/?-Whicv» is in fubftance of do6lrine this , J/f^
//>4f u not yvfth vs^is againfi -t^/.But in thingsjndi?c^
rent and but.ofcircumftance, this, Hfi_thdlk»fif^
agmf^sji vpith f /.In thefe things fo as the gene-
.: rail rules be obferucd that cbripFlocke htjcd:ythdt
iSo<re he ^fuccefston m Byfijops ^^A^MJf^fJ^^J, w h ich

* arc the PrfffhefToi the New Tifiamem^ tljaiTtHcrc
be a due & reuerenr vfe of the ^ossQx^fifthe.^eyfs 5

• that thoje ih/it Preach the Gefpell^ liae of the C of pell -
that all things tend to edification 5 thit all things hee
done in order And with decencie^Jknd the likc^jthe rcfl

T , it left to the holy wiledomc and fpirituall 4ifcre-

tion of the maftcr-buildcrs and infcriour builders
in Chrsfis church ^^s it is cxccltcntly alluded by that
Father thac notod that chrifisG4rf»inf ps with-

the Church of England^

outfeamc, and yec the Churches garment wa[$ol

diucrs colours, and thereupon (ettcth downcfor
. a Rule J I» vefte ^Arietoi fit^fcijJurA nfttft.

In which varietic ncucrihelelTc it isafafc and a

wifecourfc to follow good cxampks and prcft-

dents.But then the rule of imitation and example, a ^^ £.^ J-^f.u^^

is CO confider not oncly which arc the^beft, buc;^^,^^//)^/^:'"^?^:

which arc the likeft^ as namely the gouCrnmcnt of ' v.t y^fa-rt ?>,v^.v.^v/,

jhc Churchj in the pureft times of the fiirft godd

Emperours that imbraced the F4//A. For the times

of perfecution before temporall Prhces receiucd

the Faith^as they were excellent times forido(5trin€
—and manerSjfo they be vnprppet aricf Vnlike cxarti-

ples o! outward goucrnmentand policic. And fo

much for this point ; now to thcpartlcular fcints

of Controuerfics or rathefof KeFormanon.

1

Cifcumfiances in the (jouernment

of By floods. .^^

'ClxQi therefore for the Gouernmcnt of BjfBofSj

^ 1 for my part notprcjud^'ng the Prcfiacnts of

other reformed Churches, doe hold it warranted

by the word of God and by the p^aaifeof tlrcan-^ ^',^. ^^w.>f t^

cicnt Church in the better times; ^ndmuch morc^^^<^^<:, f^'^<^'^ ^'

conuenient forKingdomes thjen j)aritjof Mini- y^y^^P^.o^ s.,-.^'^

ftws^andgouernment by Sy nodes. But then
tbct it IS tot>c eFnBdercd/thiFflic dhtircb is

nodes. But thcn7ur-
not

BOW

QermineConltderatkns touching

now CO plane or build, but onciy to bcc prancd
from corruptions and rcpaii^.d^ ajsd ^cdpfjCfi in
fbmedecayes.

For it is worth the noting, that the Scripture
faith, rxinJUt$ SueritM^nfcepefivtd^Legiifiit
trAnjlAti0. It js not poffiblejrucjpcg •f the_grcac
and nccrc fywpathie bctvvecnc the State Ciuii!^
^nd the State Ecclefiafticall, co make fo mayne an
I ^Jtcration iq ihzchprclj^ but it would haue a pcri:_
lous operation vpon the Kingdomcjand therefore
it is fi t, chat controuerfic be in peace and file^cc,
,puttherc bee cwocircuoiftanccs ivi thcadmi-
niftrationof Byihops, wherein I confeflTc I could
I neuer be fatisficd. The one, TheJ$le exmsje cf
their mhorilst'^ The other, tBcDip»tAt$(fm0fthtir
7) n, ^- MMthpritie, '^ ...i..

''% ^ ^ / ^^^ ^^^ firftjChc Byfhop giucih orders alone, c«.

ir .''^ *'^- ^coromuiiicatech alone Judgcth alone. This fcemcs
4 TF"*^'"^" w bee a thing alrooft wichout example in goucrn-
% JC .^^..jU^ mcnt, and therefore not viihkely to haue crept in
<rx--VK.«wt ' / the degenerate and corrupt times. Wee lee the

greatcft King! and Monarches haue their Coun-
cels.There is no teg}porall Counccll in EngUndoi
the higher fort where theauthoritie doth reft in
one pcrfon> The King»-bcnch,C6mon-pleas,and
chc Exchequer,ate benches of a certain number of
ludgof . The Chancellor of England hath an Afli-
ftaoce of 1 2.iMlajftcrs of the Cbanccrie. The Ma-
ftcc d[ tbcVi^dj hath a c»uncell of chc Courr;So

hath

13
■^ the Church of England.

hath the Chancellor of the Duchie.In the Exche-
quer Chamber^ihe LordTrcafuror n ioyncd with
the Chancellor and theBarronsj The Maftcrsof
the Rcquefts are eucr more than one. The lufticcs
of Affile arc two. The Lord Prtfidents in the Mar-
ches and inihc Nerih^ hauc councels of diners.
The Sc^rre-chambcr is an afTembly of the Khgs
lpi\\i\tCfiuncell afperfed wich Lords Spiriruall and
Teniporall. So as in all Courts the principall per-
fon hath eiier either Colleagues or AJJcfJors,

The like is to bee found in other well gouerned
Kingdomes abroad where ti)ejunfdkfiion is yet
more diftributedj as \x\ tbeCourrs of Parliament
of Fr4»f^,3nd in other places. No man will denic,
but the A^Sis that paffc the B^fhsp jurirdijflionj arc
or as great importance as thofe that pade the duili
CfiMrt/} for mens foiiles are more precious then
their bodies or goods^Sr fo are their good names.
^jjhoPs haue their iofirmiticSj and hauc no except
lion from that gene rail maledi<9:ion which is pro-
aouncedagainft all osen liuing, P^dfeli^nAmftetti'
derityd'c, NayjWC fee that the firft warrant in Spi" f^ ^ w^^^
rituall caufcs is dircdcd^to a number D« Etclejid, ^'^ M^'y^
which is not fointemporall matters; Andwcfcc ^ J<hs^

that in generall caufcs oi Church gdHernment^xhttz 'r75f'^^^^'*^^\'^.-«4
arcafwclAffcmbiiesef all thcfAi^^/tfiijCouncds, ^^"^^ ^^^^ ^
as of the States in Prfy^rfw^-^^j whence fhould this-' •*^^^'*''^^*^''^'*''^*^
folccxercifcof jmifdicftionGome? Surely, I doc /f ^

(uppoic and thinke vpon ground, that aJ? iM§ <^^ -^'^^ n.^^-u^ ;/«

C non

OATtiyn^**^^

''^4C^':^7lt Ortnine Confiderat'wm mching

-^i^cc^^h if:B^^-^'-4^^nonfunitA\ and that the Deanes and Chapters

%Tt ws^r/^*^^^^^'^ Counfels abou[ the Seas and chayr£$ of jr.-

^^•^ ^l^iJ^^jpf^-^dfl- i^ofs at the fiiftj andij-verc^rntothcm a ?Ttihittrtej\

^ or Conjtforh^ aiiT intcrmcdled not oneTy" in the

difpofing of their rcuenues and endowments, but

mueb more in jurifdidion Ecckfiaflical]. But it"

is probablCjthat the De4fjean6 chapter fiuckc dole

to the By/hops in matters of profit and the world,

^u4fA^. ■ ^ni-Cdi- fr*^/ii^^^ would not loofe their hold 5 but in matters of

^ a#;?^*,^^f^y_^^ ^f jurildi^^ion, (which they accounted but trouble

A t^^^^.s ^V.^ »^^'*-^and attendance) they fuffercd the Byfl;iops to cn-

/j.^'hx*^^^ ^f fi^fl-'T^^''^^ croach and vfurpej and fo the one continucthjand

ihc other is loft. And wee fee that the Byfhop o^
Reme^ {fasefi^^ ab hcfle iccefty and no queftion in
^* fjf ,c^^^\,c^^ that church the firft inftitutions were exceIleBt)>r
^ /c^ ^cf^-'uJ^s-vk^- perf ormeih ail Ecclefiaft icall Jurifdi6iion^ as^ m
- 1^ 'v^ /^ii-»^u^. CoH^jlerie.

. And whereof confifleth this C^/?y^mf, but of
theparifla Priefts of 5tfw^,which terme thcmfeiues
cimn^^^car^limFMmun^^ becaufc the Byfhop
^ ^ prcrendeth to be vniucrfailouer the whole world.

^^"^-^ ^^^ -^ "^- And hereof againe we (cc diners fhadowes yet re-
j>^^^ (Qm^^^^ ^^^^^ maining ; As that the Dedfie and chapter^ fro fef'
cX^ v^ ^A S'^i- -%> ,3,4 choofcth the Byfhopy which is the highefi point
^u-^^iiui^. of jurifdiaion. And that the Byfliop when hec gi-

^\o^ ^,vj i^^f^^ ^ ueih orders, if there be any Minifters cafuallygrc-
^ j>#.b 'i^ ^ crc^' 'f- fentjCalieth them to joyne with him in impcntioh
C^MtZ.i, .v!^ «/.^c oThandSjand fome other particBlars. And thcre-

fvTe k feemes to me a thing real«nable and religi-

OUSj

the Clour ch of England. ^

ouSjand according to the firft inftitution^that By-
ffpj>s in the grcatcft caufes. and thofc which re-
quire ajpirituall^i'fcerning/harocl^ in orday ning, ty^^ Ci).,c^.^^ <i ^o S^
iufpending or depriuing MmTflers in excommu-
nication being reftorcd to the true and proper vfe
as ftiall bee afterwards teuchcd, in fen fencing the ?<^^ ^f^ud-^ r^^r^^r^
validitic of Manages, andlcgittimatlons,in jad-.^*:^t'7!2!^/^1cit'i^*
ging caufes criminoBs as Symonic,inceft,bIarph€YC:rX<^^3^"-^ ^y^f^r
mie and the likcJftiou[dnotj)rocced fole and_vn-" '■''^ 'f ^. (^imh^m'^^"'
affiacd, which point asl vndcrftand, is a Refor:^'^'''"^ '-^""''''^
mttion tha: may bec^lant€d^/?«rtf^rf^/i^ without "
any perturbation at al!, and is a matter which will
•gioe ftrength to the Byrhops, countenance to the
inferiout degrees of Prelates or Minifters, and
the better iffue or proceeding ia thofecaufci that
Ibali pa^e.

And as I wifti this ftrength giucn to the Byfho^i
ty Councell, fo it is not vnworthy your Msiefties ^

Royall coniideration, whether you fhall notihink
fit to giue ftrength to the general Councell of yeur ^-^ V ^ c^»t^/v»«fil^c :
Cjerite^ the Conuocathn Houje^ wh ic h was the n re- ^ ' ^^ '
► (irained, whcH the fiate of the cUrgk was thought
a fufpefted part to the Kingdomc in regard of
their late homage to the Byfliop of j?<?w^^ which
ftate now will giue place to none in their loyaltic
and deuotion but to your Maiejiie^

For the fecond point, which is the Deputj?« 2- ,J!>:-LLhJ^^''>fh>
tjon^f theii^Authorit]C~T]ee~nc^c^^^ x^-^i ^^^^^

groimd for that ncidier ^ bceing romewhat diffc- ^ ''Cr...>^

C 2 rent '60^<^ ff ■

£ertaine Conjtdemtions touching

rent from the examples and rules of goucrnment.

The Zf^y^^^ exetcifeih his jurifdi^iion by his C/^4;!p-

p/}. ^ A •/> ,^ Ciller and Comifjme^ ^^^i4L&^* VVce fee in all

i^^lS 'r.c^3^?*^^ ^^^^'^^ ^" ^^^ world.i^^^ipi of confidence and skill

S^t^^Al'-. «:rc.y ^^^^^-cannot be put oucr nor exerciTed by^eputle^jcx-

^'L ^^'^ry^^K^^ATvri-. ceptit face efpccially contained in theorigmall

grant, ^and in that cale it is dutiful). And for cx-
^if*-^'>^<^^'^,'^:(knx.: pcricncCj thciewas neuer any Chauncellour of
¥ ^^" £«g/W, made a Deputie, There was ncucr any

^'^^A^:PaS''v>.^f^. J"<^ge in any Court,made a Deputic.The lyPiep is
f <^ cT aludgCj andofahighNature,wheneecommcih

|. A ji^|j <r^« /^ 7v*/«^*v jt that hce f^^^^ depute, confidering thatal!
*/C^^*'/rft«r>.*^*;v^t-';^j.yf^3„j^Qn^^^j^j.g^5 ^^5 (aid is perfonalland

inherent5and cannot or ought not to bee tranfpo-
a^.Wi> .^ -A*- Wtc. fcd ? Surely in this againe ihinith nofffu'nita^

butitisprobable, that Byjjqps when they gauc
r" J^ (N i^iemfeiucs too much to the gloricofthe world,

p^ ^.; . , ' Gouncellors to Princes , then did they dc-

leaguc their proper jurifdidion as things of too
inferiour a nature for their greatneflc ;and then
after the {imiiitude and immitation of Kings and

^- *fj i-nt jA*aV '^i^y^sit- CounTs^Pala tine, they would haaeilicir Chad-

fa>d^v . ccllors and Judges,

But that example of Kings and Potentates gi-

^j ^ 2r^Avf^A?3 ?rv^.^ ucth no good defence. For the reafons why Kings

^4.^9^. *" adminifter by their ludges, «ltboughthcmfelucs

arefuprcamc Judges, are two. The one becaufc

^rdM-f^

^5 ^ ^^^ **^ ibc officci of Kings arc for the . moft partorin

the Church of England^ ■

hcriiancc,and it is a Rule in all La\^cs ; Thdt OffH^ A^^ ^

(ts ofinhn»t4nce^Ar€rAtherm*Ue_fs that found in tn-

Urefi^ihtn in ccnfidence ^iorain\uch as they may fall

ypon womcn,ypon Infa nts^vpon Liinafigues and

idcots, pcrfons vncapable to execute ji,dica(urc

in perfon,and therefore fuch Offices by all Lawes

might cucr be excrcifcd and adminiftrcd by dc le- /^ / ^^ /

gation.The fccond rcafon is^becauie oftheampii- '^^-^y^^^^tT^^-- ^

tudc otlHeirrurif^l^OH^ which ij as grcajjs cT- ^p^J^"^ o^ '7^

ther their ^TrtTMJght from their AnceAorSjOr their^

rword-rTgBt from God jmaketh it. And therefore if

Mtfes that was Goucrnour ouer no gi eat people,

and ihole collc£bed together inacampc,andD®t

fcattcred in Prouincesand citicSjhimfelfelikcwife

of an extraordinarie f pirit, was neuertheles not a-

ble to fuflSceand hold out in perfon to judge the

peop!e,but did b/ the aduife of//;Ar^approued

from God, fubftitute Elders and Judges^ how

much more other Kings and Princes, . a

TA«c.«adMrdR€aloniikeujiey not much "^i^f t^^ !^^

the prcfcnt purpoi€,andt^atii:Tfiat Kings eyiBcr Z'*^^ '*^ ^'*'^ ^'

in rcfpeiSlef the CommonoWeahhjOr of the grcat-

ncsohheirownePatrimonies,are vlually par'ics

in fwtes , and then their Judges ftand indifferent ^ ^ '>4^L»>v.^.»*!'

Betwcene them and the fubicd. But in the cafe of ^^ ^/^ "^ ^"^ '

jS;/;J<?/>;,noncof thefe reafoHshold. Forfirftjtheir ^"^ \ / .

Oifice is clediue_and for life, aod noTparnmonN"7^^ o-^'-*^ ! yti^

aTorTiercWtancTan C5ce meerly of confidence, ^^^.^"^-^ 6^-^r

fci€nccandq^iialificaiiOij. i'W^for the (econd rea*-

G 3j i'H^^

M.

Qermme Confidemtlons touching

jt j»^ *^. foHj it istruc ihactheir jurifidi<SlionisamfIeaad

■^ ,*^ "7^ -tf^ 5Jl lpaciO"^5 2"^ that their time is to bcc diuided bc-

^u^JZ&^UC^^i t^veenc the labours as well m the word and do-

'^^v. "^^^^^ (ftrinCjasingoucrnmentandjurifdidion.Butycc

I^oenptke/uppofing the Byliiops Courts to be

\k<^ vncorriiptly, and without any in.dire6l courfc

held to multiply caufcs for gaine of fees ^hm

that_tbe By iTiop might very well for caiifes ol ma.

U h r ri; ^,,Lr£tt4 *"^^ ^"PpJx hj«- jy.4|ci all fundion in h is o woe

L^^ JiX <^.^ 5^ '^P^^^^^'^^'' ^^ ^^^ before our eyeSjtbat one chstun-

'f "^ (rr/Zi'f of EngUnd difpatcheth the fuitcs in equitic

J of the whole Kingdomejiwhich irnotbyrcafon

:ofthcexcgllencic of rfiat rare honourable Peffon
which now holdeth tEaTpIac^, l)ut it was cucr {o^
tfiough more and lefle burdcnqujito^hc^fator^as
^zChAuhMor was more or leflc sbJc to giuc di-
^^V^itcM^i^n.-^ A^i^fpatch. And if heed bee talcen to "tlwt which was
y .^v>^*i-^^*/^i^'^'^- faid before, that the ^^fhofi labour in the word

miift take vp a priHcipali part of his time, fo I may
fay sgaine, that matters of State haue cuer taken

?n^^y, <rr )^h>^ aJ^ ftA ''^

-f^ ^^'. t<M trf A ^v^vp moft of the chAumeilors time, hauing bin for
A^^^ ^?»^^. /^^ the moft part perfons vp©n whom the Kings of

this Realme haue moft relied for matters of Coun-^
cell. An therfore there is no doubt,but the Byfbtpy
whole circuit is Icflc ample, and the cauics in na-
ture not fo multiplying, with the hclpc of referen-
ces and certificates to and from fit perfons for the
better ripening of caufes in their meane procee-'
dines, and fuch ordinary helpes incident to jurif-

di^ion^

the Church of England^

Ul

di^ioOj may very well fufficc his Office, But yet *_

there is an other heipe, for the cauies that come ;^^^^ ^'^^'filj^ ^^"^
before him are thcfe, T^^s^Lc^acies andMml'^i^^. ^^ ^J \ J.
niftrationSj and other teftamcmary caufes, caufes '^^'!'^*'^^^-^" '" ^ '
Matrimoniall, accufations againft Miniftcrs ten^ ' **
ding lb theit (ulpeBIion, deprfuation or degra-
ding, Symonic, incoutinencie, Herefiej Bla/phe-
roie, breach ct Saboth, and other like cauks of
fcandall. The firft two of thcfe in mine opinion^
differ from the reft^that is.Tithesand teftamcntsT^^^^^^t^ \Z^
for thofe bee matters of projfite and in their naturc'^^fw7C^'"/.^Tr
Temporalljtnoujih by ajauour and conniuence o{,,„.,a«<R^<^ of^tU^'^ ~
the tempoira]l]unrdr$[ron,they haue been allowed^M^^^^^tflL «r*^^»^^-
and pcrroittcdjo the Courts ^ccUftAjtTcdl^^t one,
to the end the C^r^f^ might luc for tfiaTthat was
their fuftcmatbn^ before their owne ludgcs, and
the other in a kind of pietie and Religion, which
was thought incident to the performance of dead ^

mens Wils, And lurcly for thcfe twOjthe Byfhop ^ ^By^h^^ ^ '^^
in mine opinion, may with leffe danger difcharge "^I'^^T^^T**^
bimfelfc vpon his ordinary Judges. And I thinks ^'^'*'^'^<^^^ '
likeujfeit winfallout that thoje futes are in the
greatef! number. But for the reft, which require a ;^ /.^^sf-*^^vv^«-^<-
SpirituallTcience and difcretion in refpe<5t of thcis ^^'^-^.^^p^^'t^^'^i^'^^
nature, or ofthefcandall, it were realon in mvo-^^-*-*-'^-*-'^^^:'***'. /«
pinion there were no audience ftiicn, but by the '^ j' "^^.^ji^^^oA-
Byfhop himfclfej he being alfo nififted as was ^^^i^-'^^^'^'^d.^ i^fT^
chcd before, but irwere ncceflTarie alfo hee wcrcr^ • 'f^i.<^^'y-k?'^'^
attended by bis C(&4»t:^//<^r or fomc others bis Of-c|^^^''^ »/>j^ (h^ ■

ficcrs.

Qertulne Con/tc/erations touching

{iccrs, being learned in the Chill Law^ for his bet-
ter inftriKSlion in points of formalitiCjOr ihe cour-
(b of tlie Court, which if it were donc^then were
rhcrelefTe vfe of the off t dais Court -^ whereof there
is now to mucfvconiplajnt. ArcI caufcs of the na-
t jre aforcfaid being only drat^eto the Audience
of the 5viiii»p,it would reprcdc friuckuis av.6 ^o-
lingfuicSjanS giue agraue and incorrupt pro-
ceeding to fuch caufes as Qialbefit ior the Court*
' t . J, ?. Thcrg is a third point ajlo, not ot. juriididion^

^•Y^T^ • *^'^^^- but of forme of proceed ii}i^,~iV'hich may'diTccrue

Kcioimation; the rather bccauie It IS contrary to

the Lawcs and Cuftonesoftbis Land and State,

^ ^- , t which rhoueh they doc not rule thofe procec-

-*Hvv^* *^'U4 *<V> v^^n^dingSj ytl may tncy BV aduilcd with lor better di-

..^>^ 'fr^,cr^j/'^''^^ redif -n . .-ni that is, the Oath ex Officio^ whereby

; iuMj;:^.^,. '^ tr'mcn ^.c inforccai^i^cinelHeraleiuesT and that

; ^ that IS more^ arefworne vnro Blanqucs^ and not

vntj accufations and charges declared. By the
Tu-d- y,.^ \t .^rr^^ ,^ *axx>v.>- Lavvcs of Effgloffd^no man is bound to accufc him
'^^^'*^ ■ ielfe. In the highcft cafes of trcafon, torture is v-

7^> rc^^t^sy ^y^f A^ fed for difcouerie.and not for cuidencc. In capi-
j tar matters, no dehnquents amwer vpoB oath IS

i«r,^t^«LV i* 'n'v-"^ vtv required, no not permitted. In criroinall m^tter^
^'KAj.,.,^%,.,uhi4.^ o/e^w^i. not capital], haHdled in ihc Stdrre Chamher^znd ii^
" '''^^ caufcs of Confciencc handled in the ChauHcerU^

for the moft part grounded vpon truft and fccrcfic,
the oath of the partfc is required. But how ? wbcrc^
there is an acculation and an Accufor, which wee"
call

the Church of England.

call bills of complaint, (from which the complaio
nant cannot varic, and^out^iiliejcompiajf^
which thedefcndani may not bcc examined) exhi-
bited vnto iTie Court jandbyTroccs notified vnio
the defendant. But to examine a man ygon^oath
out of the infinuationoijamc, or out of acculati-
ons fccret andynd^3ared/tli^i?gyiniauelome
countenance from the C/»///-ZJ:yj yet is fb oppo-
{vLcetTdtametro to the fence and courfc of the Cor»'
wsn-LarVy as it may well receiue fome limitation,

r

Concerning the Liturgie^ the Cere^

monies f andSubfcription.

pOr the Liturgie^ great refpeiS; and heed would
^ be taken jleait by inueighing againft the durabc
Miniftrie due reuerence be not withdrawne from
the LiturgU, For though the guifi of Preaching,
beefarreaboue that of Reading, yet thea^ionof
the Liturgte is as highand holy as that of the Ser-
mon, iTis faidj)0mfid mea domm oraticnis 'veabu
tur^ The houfe of Prayer, not the houfe of Prea-
ching. And whereas the Apoftfe faith : Howjhall
men call 'vfon him on xphem they haue not heleeued f
and hoxvfhil they heleeue 'vnieffe they he Ate f And how
flail they heare v^iihout a Treacher ? It appcareth
that j;S Preaching '\% the more originaj!^ fo P^rayer
i$ thcmore finall, aslEc B":ffercnce isbctween tfiie
^~' D feed

^/-

Qemine Conjtderations touching

feed and the fruit for the keeping of Gods Law;
is the fruit of the teaching of the Law,and/r^/fr,
or JmocAtioH^ or ViutHe (eruice^^ot Lttnr^u (fo^
thcfe be but varietie of cermesj is the mediate hal-
]owing of the Name of God, and the principall
workc of the firfl Table, and of the great Com-
mandcmenc of the Law of God. It is true that the
Preaching of the holy word of God,!s the (owing
of the feed jit is the lifting vp of the brazen ferpcnt,
the Minif^ric of FaitFi and the ordinary racancs of

faluatipn^buf j^t K2!jg22^ ^^ ^^^^-— P'^»^^^
thatj^he beftAcStionsoTtFie worfhip of God may

be extolled cxccfCucly and fuperftjtjoufly. As the

CKtoITmg of The jacramcn t bred the j^ipcrflition

of the Maff?; the cxrojling of the Liturgie and ^

prayers, bred the fuperfiicion of the Monaflicall

orders and oraifons 5 And fo nl73ouBi Preaching

IlEcwiIe aiay^Tmagnified and extolled fuperfliti-

oufly, as if all the whole body of Gods worfhip

{hould be turncs'l into an eare»So as nonc(as 1 fup-

pofc) of found judgementjWill derogate from the

Liturgie, if the forme thereof be in all parts agrcc*-

able to the word of God^ the example of the Pri-

mftiue ckurch^md if;at holy decency which 5.Ptf«/

commendcih. And therefore fir ft^that there bea

fet forme of prayer.and that it be not Icf f,ciibcr to

ancxiemporaHformCjOr to an arbitraric forme.

Secondly jthat it confift afwcll of lawdcs^hymncs,

^pd thankcfgiuings^as ofpcdtiqns^pw^^^ ^S^

the Church of England.

pltcations.Tbirdlyjthat the forme therof be quicks
ncd with fomc fhortneSj and diuer ficies of prayers
andhymnes and with feme interchanges of the
"vaycc of the p.c<>plej aswell as ofthe voyce of ^hc

of times and commemorations ©f Gods principal
bcnefi(s,as well generall as particular^Fifthly^that
prayers likewife be appropriated to feueraTrneccf-
(iiiesandoc<:.ifion3 ofihe Church. Sfxtly , rhat
there be a forage hkewilc of vvords and Li' urgie ifi
ihcadminiftr^tionofihe Sacraments, andinthe
dcnoutKing of the cenf urc^ of th^ Church ^ and o-
ther holy actions and folcmnitics. Thcic things 1
tbinke will not bee much controuerted.

But for the particular exceptions to the Lltui^
gic in forme as it now ftands,Ithinkediuer$ of
ihem allowing ihcy were juft, yet feemc they not
to be weightiCjOtherwifc then that nothing ought
to bee accounted Hght in matters of Religion and
pietie, as the Heathen himfclfe could fay, Etiar^
n^ultufd^e iatdnurfutas. That the word Pr/tfi
fhould not bee continued efpecially witB"^
fcnce,thc \sox(^MiniJler being already made fami-
liar.This may be faid that itis a good Rule in tran-
{lition,iieuer to confound that in one word in the
tranflition, which is prccifely dif\inguifhed in
two words in the or igioall, for doubt of aequiuoca-
tion and traducing. And thcrforc feeing the word
3H^«f-@ and (itiiti bee alwayes diftinguifhed

Da . i^

3

ng

Qrtnine Conjtderations touchim

m the originalljand the onevfed for a Sacrificcfj
the other tor aMinifter, the word Priefi bceing"
made common to botbjvvhatfoeucr the dcriuaticn
be^yet in vfe it confoundeth the Minifter with the
SAcriJcer. And for an examplejof this kind^ I did
cucr allow the difcretiqn and tendernefic of the
^/^^^^jianfbnon Jn tjiis pol^ m

the original! the Word Ayw and neuer 6f»r, doe
cuer tranflare charftig^ and neuer £g«^^"Eecaiui?c of
the indjffercncic an^ cquiuocaiion of the word
with iirpure Louc.

Touching the Abfolution. it {% not vuwortbv
confideratiGn whether it may not bee thought vn-
proper and vnneccfTary/orjherjyjrc but tvyo^f^
of Abfoluiiona both Tuppciing an obligation pre^
cedent r^c^ne vpon an ExcommHnication,
which is Religious and Primitiuc ; the othci^on
Confeffion and Pcnnance which^is^fuperflmouSj
or at lealFpoTitiue, andToth particular, neither
general!. Therefore (Ince the one is taken away,
and the other hath his proper cafe^what doth a ge-
neral! Abfolution wherin there is neither Penaance
nor Excommunication precedem.For the church
neuer loofetb, but where the chureh batlj boynd.
And furely, I may thinlse^ this at the firft was al-
lowed in a kind ot Spiritual! diferetion, becaufc
the church thought the people could not bee fud-
denly weaned from their conceit of aCoyling, to
which they had heene fo long accufiomed.

Foj?

the Church of England.

"^i ConfimAtton y to .niy-vnderftanding the
ftete oJThe Qjeftion is, whether it bee not a mat-
ter miftaken and altered by timCjand whcjther that
bejipt now made a {ubfcqiient to Baptifmi^^ich
was indeed Eniii3^ucement to the Commumcn\ For
whereas fn tTfe Primittue churchy children were ex-
amined of their Faith before they were admitted
to the Commttmon^ time may feeme to haue turned
it to referrc as if it had beene to receiue a confir-
mation of their £4/>/;/Mf.

For Prittite BAftifme ^ by Women or Lay-
perions^THc'beir Dmnes d^oe^teiTy^ndemncIt,
and 1 hcare it not generaly defended, andl haue
of tan maruelled J that when thcBooke in the Pre-
face to pubhque BaptifmCjdoth acknowledge that
Baptifmeis thepradife of the Primttiue churchy
was anniuerfarie and but at let and certafne times,
vj^h^vm^ixhmhz Primitiue church, did not
attribute fo much to tlie T^cremonie ," as't'fiey
would brcake an outward and general! ordsr for
it, ihcBooke (hould afterwards allow of Priuate
Ba£tifme onely to tKe Mmiffers, TRouTd BeeBro-
ken in regard^ of the fuppofed necelfine. And
therefore this point of all others, I thinke was but
a cfince(fHm propter duritiam cordis*

For the forme of celebrating Mafrmonie ; the

the Ring {eeme:h to many eucn of vulgar fence

jnd voder{\andin^,_a^Ccrcjmonienoigrdue,jpe--

cijllytobcmade (as the words makeitj_thecfl.cn>

D 3 ~" tiall

Z^

Qertnine Confiderations touching

e claliy4Q be-HMJc (a»<iJw^iygT^j maKt iiM<<^fea°
f *^'^^/j^-^^^'!lull puimf thi action : bcfidcs fomc other of the
words are tioced in ipcech to bcc not fo decent
and fir, *"

For Mufickein churches^l^hnthcTC fhould be
finging of Pfalmesand fpirituall fongs, is not dc-
nied,{o the Qncftion isJD^fw^^; wherein if a man
wilUooke aticnducTy into the order and obfer-
uanccofit, it is cafic to difccinc, bctweenethe
wKedome of the inftftutjon, and the cxcefle of the
latctimcs. For firftjthcrc arc no Songs oTTcrTes
KTng by the Qiiirc, which are no: fuppofed, by
continual! vfc, to bee Co familiar with the people
astheyhauerhsm without booke, whereby the
found hurtcth not thevndcrftanding, and ihofe
which cannot read vpon the booke, are yet parta-
kers ol the fence and may follow it with their
mind. So againejafter the reading of the Word
ofGod, it was thought finhere fhould bee fome
pawfe.for holy meditation before they proceeded
to the reft of the fctuicej\ihichpaw/e was thojight
fie to be filled rather wijtMojpc^rauefo then
mth a il i [1 fi le ncc , wh ich was thej:caf on of the
pjaying vpon the Organs after the Scriptures read.
All wRich wasde^cnt and tending to^dificatioo.
But then the curiofitie of diuilion and reports;,
and other figures ol Mufick,haueno afiinitiewiih^
the reafonable feruicc of God, but were nddcdj'n
' lig-tpofep oiBPQus ura^s. For

the Church of England^

^For theCrf^ and Surp//ce,£ncc they bee things
in their nature indiftcrcnc, and yet by /on^eh.eld
jupcrflitious, and that the queftion js be^wecne
Science and Confcience, it lecmeth to fall within
thecompalTe of the t^p»/Ilesruk^ which is, tiiat
tfcc tender doc_de(ccnd and yeeld to the weaker.
Onely, the difference is , that it will be materially
faid, that ih^rule holds between priuatc manjand
priuaic roan^but not betweenc the confcience of
a priuate man,and the order oist church. But yec
fincc the qucftion at tjm time^is of a tolleraxipn,
not by cpnniuence which raay incouragc dilobc-
dicnce,^t:by law which may giue a liberty, it is
goodagainc to beea^uTIed, whether it fall not
within the equitic of ihcformer rule. The rather
becaufc the filencin^ of Minifters by this occafj-
on^in thisTcarcitje g^ood PrcacherSja punifh-
ment tliat ligTjts vpbn the people, as well as vpon
thcpartie. And for the SuhfcripthnM f;emethjo_
bee in the nature of a confeflion, and therefore
more pjropcrtobindein the vniiie of Fdiih^^nd to
be vrgcd rather for Articles of doarine, then for
Rit^s and Ceremonies and points of outward
gouerhmenr. For howfoeuer politike confidera-
^ians and reafons of State may requirFvnTforrai-
^c?yct daflian and diuinc grounds loolc chief-;

Z7

QerUiine Confideraticns touching

Touchinz cu> T?reachin2

NLimflry.

"T^O fpcake of a k arntdMw fjeyh^k is truejthat
•*- ihs vvorchinefife of the Pafi^rs and Minijiers is
of all other points of religion the moft fummaryjl
doe not fay the greateftjbut the moQ efiFediiall to-
wards all the rcft.But herein to my vndcrftandingj
while mcu goe on in Zeale to haftcn this worke 5
theyare not aware of as great or greater inconue*.
niendc then that which they fcekc to remoue. For
whilethey inueigh againft a duiube Miniftrk^
they make too eafieand too promifcuousan alj.
lowancc of fuch as they account Preachers 5 ha-
uing not refped enough vnto their learnings iii o-
thcr Artes, which are hand-maides to Diuinitie 5
nor refped inough to the guift it felfe which many
times is none at ail, FocjGod forbid that euery
man that can take vnto himfelfc boI^ncfTe tolpeak
an houre together in a c^yr^Jvpon aText^ftiould
be admitted for a Preacher though he meanenc-
uer io wclijl know tiierc is a great latitude in guifrs
and 3 great varietfe in Auditories and Congrega-
tionSjbut'yct fo, as there i^aii^uidwfimum^ below
which you oug^tnot to defcend. For you muft
ra{i]£t leauejtie Arke to (hake, asitrhaHpleafe,
God, then putjinwordiy hads to hold it vp, arid

when

>. the Church of England.

when wc arc ki Gods Temple, wc are warned ra-
ther to put our hands vpon our niouthjihitxro^pf-
^2lcSiaificeofjooJcJ.And fiirelyjit may bcjuft-
ly though tjthatamongliman^caiifes o{\^(hieJ^e\
which are miferably met in cur Age,, as Schilmcs
and controucrfies 3 pro^[wreTc effing inJl^^Y
matters and others, it is not the leaft that diuers
do aduenturc to handle the word oFGod, which
are vnfit and vnworthy. And herein I would haue
no man miftake me, ^ifidMex?olLcuriousjnd
affeded Preaching^ which is as much on the other
fide to be didiked, and breeds Atheffme-in^k^n"
dall as well as the other ( for who would not bee
offended at one that comes into the pulpit, as ifhc
came vpon the Stage, to play parts oi prizes,) nei-
ther on the other fide,as if I would difcouragti'any
who hath any tollerable gift, '

But vpon this point, I grcundjhrectonfidera- t.
tigns, whether it were not requifite torencw^thac
good Exercife which was pradiled in this church
fome yearcs, and afterwa rdsj)ut do wnc, by or-
der indeed from the churih in regard of {omc a-
bufc thereof, ineonucoicnt for thole times , and
yet againft the aduife and opinion ,^ of one of the
greateflandgrtueft Pf£hites^o[thJ£_I^^ . .

was commonly ca I k^frc^^ecjiit^ \ wh ich _ wag '^^rfkc^^^i nd^wn^
this ; That the Mjnifteiivv^tHrn a precindj did / ' ^
inccw vppoQ a wccice day , wvfpme prrncipall
Towac^ where there was Tome ancient granc

E Miaiftcc

Qertn'meConliderations touching

Mmifter, that u^as Prefident and an Auditonc ad-
i»ivttg)d Qi GcrvtTcmcn, or other pcifons o( Tcilure 5
then cwLiy Miniftcr fucctiTiucly, beginning with
iheyOfigci}, did handle one and thcfamc piece of
Scripture, ^Ecnd[n^feuc rally Ibmc quarter of an
houre or bcctetj Sd in the w hojcjo n^e two houres 3
and To the Excrci(e beeing bf^iitLand concluded
with prayer, and the Prcfident giuing a Text for
tKcncxi niGCting, the Aflcmbly wa$ diffolued,
Ano^hlswas-as 1 take it, a fort-nights Exctcifc,
which in my opinion was the beft way to frame
and traine vp Preachers to handle the JWord of
God as \i ought to be handled, that hath been pra-
gifgdt For we fee Orators ha^thejr Declamati-
ons, Lawyers haue their moote* Jvogicians their
SophcmSj and eucry pra(5iire of Science hath an
exsrcife of erudition and imitation, before men
i come to the lifc,6nely Preach/rg which is the wor-
ihieftj^nd wherein it is moft danger to doe amiflfe,
^Vanteth an introdu^ion, and is ventred and rufh-
ed vpon at the firftj ^"LVS"^. i^kE^crcife of the
Pfsfhefte^ I wouljdwiftithcrc two additions J the
one, that after this Exsrcife which is in fomtfort
publique, there were immediatly a priuate mee-
ting of the fame Miniflers where they might bro-
therly admoFiifli the one the other, and c^ecially
the elder fort the younger, of any thing that had
pafTed in iheExerctfe in matter or manner vnfound
and vncomely« And in a word might mutually vfc

fuch

the Church of Englmd."^^ ^^^

fuch aduiic; inftrudtion, comfort or encouragc-
mcnc, asoccdfion might minL'^crforpublikcrc-
prcljcafion were to be debarred

Thcothcr addition thai I tncfine^ is , that the
&rnc^^rci/e were Wed in the vhiuerfitics for
young Diuines before they f relumed to Prcsch.as
well as in the Country for MMiifterSjfor they haue
in fonic Coljcdges an exercifc called a Common-
J^d^mii^^Rmno d^^cCj j>ecfo pi cfi table ,
beeing but the fpcccb oFone tnaoat one^~timc.
Andific bee feared that it may bceoccafion fo
whctmcnsfpccchcs for ControuerfieSj it is eafily
rcmedyed by lomc ftri^ prohibition, that mat-
ters of Controuerfic tending any way to the vio-
lating or dilquictiog of the peace of the Church
be n«t handled or cntrcd into 5 which prohibition
in regard there is cucrto beagraueperfon Prcfi-
dent or Moderator ^cannot bee fuifered* The fe- ^ ^ / /
cond confidei-ation is, whether it were notconue- ^ ^^ '
nieni there fhould be a more cxsd prob^stion aad
examination of Mtniftcrs. Namely^ that the By-
(hpps doe not ordaint alone~But by adulTe , and
then that the ancient lioly orders of the Church
might be reuiued, by the v\ hich theBylliop difj-
ordainc Minifters but at foure fct times in the
yearc, which were called^ Qu. iMfrUmporTwHch
arc now called Evtb rvfieeks^^'i being tHcughc
£tto accompany To high an a^ ^n with general!
Faftmg, and Prayer, and Sermons, and all holy

£ 2. exer-

QertaineConfidemtions touching

cxercifef. And the names likewife of thofc
that were ordained were piMfficd' fomc daycs
before their ordinarion , to the end cxc€£tlons

3 ' ThetM c^nfideraiion is ; that if the cafe of
the ChurcITof Engtdnd ¥ce , that where a com-
putation is taken of all the pcrochian Parifhes ,
as allowing the vnion of fuch as were too fmali ,
and adjacent , and againe a computation to bee
taken of the perfons who are worthie to bee Pa-
yors. And if vpon the faid account it fall our,that
there are many more Churches thenPaftors,
then of^neceffitie ^ recourfc muffBcc had to one
oTthefc remedies j cythcr that p//»r4/5f«^/ muflbc
allowed, fpccially if you can by permutations
^ake the benefices more compatible , as there be
allowed Preachers to haue a more generajl charge
to fupply and ferue by turne Parifkes vnfumifhed.
For that {omt Churches fhould bceprouided of
PaftorsaS^Jole^!^3^<^otfe^
^mcth to meetoBce againftHic Communion of
Saints, and Chriftians, and^agaiiyi^iHcJradifc
oiihzPrimiuue church, '

7w4chmg

the Church of England^

33

Touching the ahufe of

Excommunication,

EXcimmanieAthn is the greateft judgement vp-
pon the earthy being that which is ratified in
Heauen, and being a precurforie or prclafo-
ric judgement eichriji in the end of the world 5
and therefore for this to be vfed vnrcuerently , and
to bee iTiaj^CjingidJRari^
and downc for Fees, how can it bee without de-
rogation to Gods honour, and making the power
of the keyes contemptible ? I know very well the
defence thereof, which hath no great force. That
^t jiTues foorth not for the thing it jeLfc, but foi
the contumacie. I doe not dcnie but this judge-
ment isas I laid before, of the nature otGods
judgcmentjofthe whichitisamodelJjFor as the
judgement ofGod taketh hold vpentbgJciJlfin of . .^ (J4^- ^'^[ t /
the impcnitent.fo eKcemmunicAttqjn^vm cafe ifTuc M av J^P JX

/ ^,,' ?^<

^

vpo.n the frn^allefl oSince,and in cale not I
t_he£rcate(^but is this cotumacyJuch a contuma
cie SLsExcamm/tKfcathtt is sow vied foipfpr iha con*

eye and wifcdome of theQnirch can diTccFne^n-

~^deth in ft.^tc of reprobation and damnatign^as one

that for that time iccmethjiucn ouenofinaH im-

gcnitcncie. Vpon this obferuation I ground two

Qrtmne Conjtderafions touching

coniidcraaons j Tjicone , that this ccniurc bee it-
ftorcd CO the cruc digaitic ^^^ v(c thcrcol, which is
that ic proceed cot but ^n cafes o f great weight,
and that it be decreed not by any Deputie or iub-'
ftitutc of the Bjjhfpy but b> the By/hff^ in pcrion ;
and not by him alone, but by the Bj^j>£ii^i\cd,

The otbcfConfiderauon is, that in lieu there-
of, therT'be glucnTotEc^EcclHiaiUcall Courts,
Come ordinary prccefls, with luch force andco^
ertion, as appcrtaiaeth. That fo the dignitie of (o
high a fcntcp.ce being retained, and the necdfijie
of mcane proccfTc iupplyed^ the iWurch may bee
inHccd reftorcd to theAncicnt Tigor and fplcndor.
To this purpofc joyned with feme other holy and
good purpoies, was there a Bill drawne in Parha-
ment in the three and twcmic yeare of the raignc
of the Qjcene deccalcd, which was the gra-
uefi PailiamcTttbat I baue knownej^^thc Bill
recommended by the ^iueB CounfelIor~of E-
ftatc in Parhamcnt, though aftcrwar<^« it was flay-
ed by the Q^ccnes fpeciall commandeioent, the
nature of thole times conddered.

Touching the !?^(m - refidents

and pluralities.

CO R Non'tejidents except it bee iuft of ncccffa-
*" ry abfsRce ^ ir fccmeih tobe anabufe drawne
^ut of CQuetoufaeffg jtnd flc^ath ; foFSTt ircn

ftiould

the Church of England^ 3f.

(hould Hue of the flockc that they doc not fccde j
"bratihc Aliarat which they docnotferuc, is a
ihing that can hardly rcceiue juft defence, And to
cxercife the office of aPaftorin matter of word
»nd do^rfne by deputy, r^ a thing not warranted
as hath becnc touched before. Thequcftionvpon
thispoymdcth chicfely arife vpcnihe cafes of
exception, and excufation,which fl^all be thought
reafonableand fufHcient,S; which nor* for the cafe
of Chaplaines, let nr.e fpcakc that with your Maje-
flies pardon, and with due reuerencetowardt 6-
otHcr Peeres and giaue perfbns, which arcEy Sta-
tutes prfuiledged, I fhould thinke that the atten-
dance which Chaplaines giue to your M^jeflies
Court^ and in the Houfes and Famihes of tlieir ,

Lords, were ajufter reafon why they fhould hatae ^x*^"^ "^'"^S Si^T^l-r^
no Bcni&c, then why they (hould bee ^ualifeed , ^^^^^x^/^'^ a^^^a*^
toHaue two, for a? it ftandcih wuh Cbrittian po- >"'

1Icic,chat fuch attendance be in no wife negteded j
becaufe that good which cnfueth thereof to the
Church of God, may exceed orcounteruaile that
which may follow of their labours in any, though
neuer fo large a congregation, fo it were rcafo*
nable that their maintainancc fhould liberally
proceed th^ence whence their labours bee employ-
ed. Neither are there wanting in the Church,
Dignities and preferments notjoyned with any
ex.^cureoffoulesby which and by the hope of
which fuch attendants in ordinary^ who ought to
be Its tor the mofl pare they are of the befl gifts and

foit,

(^ermine Conjiderations touching

iorCj may bee further encouraged and rewarded*
And as for extraordinary atrenoanis dicy may ve-
ry well retainc the grace and countenance of their
places and duties at times incident therunto with-
out diicontinuancc or n0f9'r€fidcft€e'mihQ\t^%,i\:o-'
rail charges.

Nexrafor the cafeai Intending ftudJcs in the
Wn'm^xinks^ it will now eafily reccTue aa Anfwcr,
forftudies doc butfcrucand tend to thepradifc
of thofe ftudiesj And therefore by that which moft
principall and finalltobc leftvndonc, for the at-
tending of thofe which is fiibferuicnt and fubmi^
niftrant, fe^meth to bee againft proportion of rea-
fpn.Neiiher do I fee but that they proceed Right-
well in all knowjcdge which do couple ftudie with
their pra^fiifejand^o not firft ftudy altogether and
^en pra£tilc altogether. And thercforctliey may
very well []tudyat_their benefice. TbiL^^Vj^or the
cafe of extraordinary TeriiTce of the Church, as if
fome Paftor be (ent to a generall Counfcll, or here
to a Conuocation, and hkcwife for the cafe of ne-
eeifityjas in the particular of infirmity of body and
the like, no man will contradifij buttheremaybe
fome fubf^itution for fucha time.But tfie generall
cafe ot necelTity, is the cafeoff/jar^/z/w, the wane
of paftors and infofi&cicncy of Liuings confidered.
Pf/ItPy that a man doth faithfully and inccflfantly
diuidc his labours betwccne two Cures, which
kinde of necefHty I come now to fpcake of, in the
hanilmgoi PiHralaies^

For

the Church of England. ^^'

For Pluraliities^ in cafe the number of able Mi- TJu^a&itvtff
nirtcrswere fufficlenr, and the value of the Bene-
fices were fufficientj then Plural/ties were in no .
fort tollerable. But wee muft take heed we defirc
not contraries 5 For to dcfirc that eucry parifh
(hould bee furniflied with a fufficicnt Preacher,
and to dcfire that Plttraltttcs bcc forthwith taken
away, is to defire things contrary, confideriing de
/igg^^thcrc are not fufiicient Preachers foreuery
farirti 5 wherto adde hkcwi(e,that there is ilot fuf-
fidcnt IJuing and mainicnance in manyparifiies
to maintaine a Preacher,and it makes the trnpoi!!-
biliiic yet much the greater. The remedies in n-
rttmnAturaait but thrce^ y»f^») permutation ^md
Sufily. Vnion^ ot luch Benefices as haue the Li-
uingtoofmall,& theparifli^nottoogreatjand are
adiaccnt. Pcrmutition , to make Benefices more
compatible me-n becoucr-rulcd tofome lofTc in
changing a better for ancerer. SuHljjby flipcn-
darie Preachers to bee rewarded with fomelibc-
rall flipcnds to fupply as they may, fuch places
which are vnfurnifhed of fufiicient Paflors , as
Qieene Elttahcth amongft other her Chriftiaa
a6ks , did cred ccrtaine of them in L4»cafi?iret
towardsJwHicITpcrfons^^^
,ding Mmifters if they haue rich Benefices {Hoind
bcc charged «.

F t^Mchif^

Qcrtaine Conjiderations touching^
Touehing the ^puiJtonforJ~uffic tent

Queuing CWrch maih'cnance it is well to hi
weighed, what is lure divwo, and what is /gre
fofitf'V6\\i is a conftitution of the Diuine law,
whcre-from Humainc lawcs cannot derogate j
that thofe that feed the flocke, fhotild liuc of the
floekc J that thole which ferue at the Altar, rtiould
liueat the Alrar ^ and which difpcnce Spiritual!
thingSjffciouId reapc Temporall things. Of which

it is alio an appendix, that l^J££E2Eli£!L °^^^'^
niain tenance be not (mall or nccc fjfiri^^^bufplen-
nfufl and^liberalj J fo that all the places and ofSccs
in the Church haue fuch a donation' , that they
may bee maintayned according to rheyr fcuerali
degrees, is a conftitution parmancnt and perpc-
tuall. But for particularirie of theendowincnr^
whctherjtfliould confift^in Tythes, or Lands, or
perfons, ormixt^ j^ may make a gucft ionToF^n-
ucniencc 5 but^no qucftion of prccifc^neccflitie :
Againe, that the cafe of the Church De facts i$
fuch, that there is want in theChurch of patrimo-
niCj is confefTcd for the principal! places 5 namely,
the Bifhops liuings arc Jnjomc^ particulars not
fufficientj and therefore inforced to bee fuppfyed
by toleration of C^wwr»^4w; , things inihcm-

fclucs

'the Church of England.

fellies vnfi: and cucrhcid of no good report, (>vTv>r-^ *--i «n^^.

And as for che Benefices and Paftors places, it
is manifeft, chat many of them v/ere very weakc
and penurious 5 on thcothei fide, thatjliere^as a
time when the Church was rather bur Jsned with ^

fupcrfluitic then with lacke ; thatlsTIkcwifc appa-
rantjbutitwaslongfiriccj lo as the fault w.is in
others, the want tedoundeth vpon vs agajne. And
therefore, that it wmc to beevvifhed liiat Im^ro- Jyr^^^J^.^f -f^ ^^
priationswcre returnedTolhe Cliurdi aslhe ^lo-n^fu^ ^'^^ /^^^ \
per and naturailcndownient thereof, As a thing '^''"'^''^'^*'^
likewife whereon mens judgements will not n)uch
vaiic. AKo, that ius an Impoilibilitk to proceed
-eytbcr to thcyr reXumption oriadcipption, is as
plaine on the other fide 5 for men ^.rc lilaicd^ih
thenoTyTReTneheff aflfurBncc of the Kingdomc,
which is A^ oi Parliament, andjhe value of them
amoiinteth much aboue tenne Subfidics, And
the Reditutlon njuJFot neceiHtie paffe tfieir hands
in whole hands there is intercfl and pofikfTion.
But of fhcfc fhings which are manifcfilytfuej to
inferrc andgtound fomeconclufiont ; Fir{>, for

^5iP£,P^'^^ *^'P'°i9? ^"^ ^"^^ ^ ^^^ confefTe,
let mcc fpeakeitwith reuerence^ that a]l the Par-
l|amjntsjinccthc 27. and 3 1 . of King Hfn.%. who ^o4^<^y f^^-^ ^f ^Z-
gajK^awayTmpropriations from the Church, ^ ^^ r^^^fi^ ^^^ ^
feme to mcc to ftand in fome fort qSnoxiou^and';^.^ C^"^^ "X^'^.
obliged to God in^onfcience to doc fomewhat^^!^^,,^* iV *^ -t*^/ V*^ -
far mc Church, to reduce the pa trimome there-' ^^.
^ r^' F ^ of,

QertnmeConJtderations touching

p{ to a competencies for (incc they haue ctbar*
rcdChrifls wife of a great part of her Dowrie, it
were reafofl ihey made her a competent loyntnrc.
t»^cxc to fay, that Impropriations diculd bee
oneJy charged, that carryetb neytFier pcfC^'ilitic
norreafon. Not poflfibiliricforthcreafGiuouch-
cd before. Not reafon bccaufg if it be conceived
chat any other prions bee_ charged itjfhould bee
a recharge or double charge, in as much as hee
payetH^ tythes to the Church , (o the Realmc
hath taken that away againe from the Church,
andgauctfiem to the King, as they might giuc
their tenth fheaffc , or ninth fhcaffc 5 and there-
fore, the fixf^ gutfc bceing evacuated, it can-
not goe in dcfeazanccor difgrace of that perpe-
tuall bond whereby men arc bound to maintainc
Go^^s Minifters. As we fee in example , that
divers godly and well- difpofed perfons doc put
ia vre who arc content to increafe their Preachers
livings, which though in Law it bee but a bene-
volence j yef before God, it is but a confcicncc.
Farther that IrnpropriatTons A^ould not bclemc-
what more deepcly charged then p ther revc^
new s oflikc value;»nc thinkes cannot well be dc-
tiye y. both in regard of the ancient claime of
thcC'Urch and the intention of the firft giver.
Andd^ainc, bccaufr tt^ey haue pa/Jed inVAluitl"
<»/f betwetfie wan andmm fmtevchat at the ^f^tr*te^
inregird of the f aid pretence 0r clame^in Coujcu

ence

the Church of England.

me hefire Cod ; But of this point touching
Church mainuinancCj I doc not thinlrtTfit to en-
ter into a farther particularitic , hit rcfcruc the
fame to a fitter time.

f fuis haiie nrTall humblcncs and finccritie of
heart, to the beft of mine vnderftanding , given
your Majeftie tribute of my cares and cogitati-
ons in this holy bufincfle , To highly tending
toGodsglorie, your Maiefties honorjaud the
peace and welfare ofyour S tares j info much^asl
am perfwaded the Papilb ihcmfclucsjjiould
iR'„ "5x4 Jo mu'^^^ feveriiic of thcpcnall
Lawcs, if the fword of the Spirtf2y^''c^t'
tcr t^ufi,^ \ ,by ftrcfigtbcning 'tKTauthoruic
afldfup^rcffing the abufcs in ihcChttrch.

To conclude therefore, rcnuing my mcft
humble (ubmiilion of all that Ihauefaid,toyour
Majefties moft high wi/edomc ; and agaicfe,
naoft humbly cravmg pardon for my errour
committed m this writing, wi'h the fame
wcakntlfe of Judgement which luffcred mc to
commit them, would not fuffer mee ro difcovcc
them. lend with my devout arid fervctn prayer
to God, that ashce hath n ade your ;'^ai£ftie
the corner ftonc in joyning your two Xmg-
domes^ fo yon may bee alio as a corner ^oi to

F 3 vnitc

Qertnme Conftderatms,0'c.

vnitc and knif together thcfc differences in the

Church of GOD, to whole heaucnly grace,

and ncucr erring Dirtdion , I commend

your Majcfties Sacred perlon and

all your doings.

FZJ^(/5•.

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